System and method for scanning to a host computer

Abstract

A scanning device for scanning to a host computer includes memory for storing a list of host IDs and corresponding host addresses, an image sensing module for scanning an image or document, and a display panel for displaying at least one host ID that is selectable via user input. The scanning device receives registration data from a host computer, displays a list of one or more registered host computers, receives user input identifying a host computer, scans a document or image to generate scan data, and transmits the scan data to the host computer identified by the user input.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A scanning method comprising: 
 displaying a host identifier (ID) for identifying a host computer;    receiving user input selecting the host ID;    scanning a document or image to generate scan data; and    transmitting the scan data to the host computer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the host ID is displayed in response to receiving user input requesting a scan.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of host identifiers.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 prior to displaying the host ID, receiving registration data containing the host ID from the host computer; and    prior to scanning the image or document, transmitting a scanning request to the host computer and receiving a scanning instruction from the host computer.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where the host computer is a personal computer (PC).  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , where the method is implemented via a scanning device.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , where the scanning device is coupled to the host computer via a network.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , where the scanning device is coupled to the host computer via a direct connection.  
     
     
         9 . A scanning device for scanning to a host computer comprising: 
 memory for storing a host identifier (ID);    an image sensing module for scanning an image or document, where the scanning is used to generate scan data; and    a display panel for displaying the host ID, where the scanning device transmits the scan data to the host computer that is identified by the host ID in response to receiving user input selecting the displayed host ID.    
     
     
         10 . The scanning device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 means for transmitting a scanning request to the host computer; and    means for receiving a scanning instruction from the host computer.    
     
     
         11 . The scanning device of  claim 9 , where the host computer is a personal computer (PC).  
     
     
         12 . The scanning device of  claim 9 , where the scanning device is coupled to the host computer via a network.  
     
     
         13 . The scanning device of  claim 9 , where the scanning device is coupled to the host computer via a direct connection.  
     
     
         14 . The scanning device of  claim 9 , where the image sensing module comprises a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a contact-image sensor (CIS).  
     
     
         15 . The scanning device of  claim 9 , where the scanning device is a flat-bed scanner, a sheet-fed scanner, or a multifunction device.  
     
     
         16 . A method for scanning comprising: 
 transmitting a registration request to a scanning device;    receiving a scanning request from the scanning device;    transmitting a scanning instruction to the scanning device in response to receiving the scanning request;    receiving scan data from the scanning device; and    transmitting a request to the scanning device requesting a cancellation of registration.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , where the method is implemented via a host computer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , where the registration request includes a host identifier (ID) for identifying the host computer.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , where the request for registration is transmitted in response to user input requesting registration with the scanning device, in response to the host computer powering up, in response to a user logging on to the host computer, or in response to a user logging on to a network to which the host computer is coupled.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , where the request for cancellation of registration is transmitted in response to user input requesting cancellation of registration, in response to the host computer powering down, in response to a user logging off from the host computer, or in response to a user logging off from a network to which the host computer is coupled.